ERWIN SCHULHOFF
- selected works for cello -
Cello and Piano Sonata Op. 17
Duo for Violin and Cello
- selected works for cello -
Cello and Piano Sonata Op. 17
Duo for Violin and Cello
Cello and Piano Sonata, Op. 17 - Erwin Schulhoff
Schulhoff composed his sonata in 1914 when he was twenty years old.
Schulhoff composed his sonata in 1914 when he was twenty years old.
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Duo for Violin and Cello - Erwin Schulhoff
Schulhoff's compositional style ranges from post-romantic to atonal, jazz, Dada-inspired/experimental, and folk. Schulhoff composed his duo in 1925 during his folk-inspired period.
Schulhoff's compositional style ranges from post-romantic to atonal, jazz, Dada-inspired/experimental, and folk. Schulhoff composed his duo in 1925 during his folk-inspired period.
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Erwin Schulhoff
(1894-1942)
Erwin Schulhoff was born in 1894 in Prague to a German-Jewish family. He began studying piano at a young age, encouraged by his mother. Schulhoff studied music in Prague, Vienna, Leipzig, and Cologne. In addition to piano, he studied music theory, composition, and conducting. His composition teacher at the Leipzig Conservatory, Max Reger, emphasized the importance of counterpoint and voice leading. Schulhoff developed into an accomplished and talented musician in every facet of his studies. He won the Mendelssohn prize for piano performance in 1913, when he was just 19 years old. When he graduated from the Cologne Conservatory he was awarded the Wüllner Prize for his conducting of Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel. He was awarded the Mendelssohn prize again in 1918, this time for composing his Piano Sonata, Op. 22. He was a virtuosic performer and his compositional mindset enhanced his interpretation of complex works.
In the 1930s, with the rise of German Fascism, Schulhoff turned further to the left. He was a committed Socialist and he looked to the Communist Party and the Soviet Union as a defense in the fight against Nazism. In this period of Schulhoff’s life he toured frequently as a pianist. His compositions were published by Universal Edition and he enjoyed relative success, though he was never financially stable. Schulhoff’s contract with Universal Edition soon ended as the publishing company faced political pressures. The Nazis deemed Schulhoff’s music Entarte Kunst, or degenerate art, for a number of reasons: he was Jewish, he composed jazz, and he had ties to Communism. He continued working and composing but under pseudonyms such as Hans Petr, George Hannel, Franta Michálek, John Longfield, Joe Füller, Lu Gaspar, and Eman Baizar to disguise his identity.
In 1938 German troops occupied Czechoslovakia, and Schulhoff unsuccessfully applied for emigration papers to England, France, or the United States. When denied, he quickly shifted gears and applied for Soviet Citizenship for himself and his family. They received visas on June 13, 1941. Unfortunately, it was too late— the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union nine days later, so leaving became impossible. Schulhoff was arrested for being a Soviet Citizen the next day. He was deported to a concentration camp in Wülzburg, Bavaria. He continued to compose, working on his Eighth Symphony. After roughly a year, he contracted tuberculosis and died. The Eighth Symphony remains unfinished.
In the 1930s, with the rise of German Fascism, Schulhoff turned further to the left. He was a committed Socialist and he looked to the Communist Party and the Soviet Union as a defense in the fight against Nazism. In this period of Schulhoff’s life he toured frequently as a pianist. His compositions were published by Universal Edition and he enjoyed relative success, though he was never financially stable. Schulhoff’s contract with Universal Edition soon ended as the publishing company faced political pressures. The Nazis deemed Schulhoff’s music Entarte Kunst, or degenerate art, for a number of reasons: he was Jewish, he composed jazz, and he had ties to Communism. He continued working and composing but under pseudonyms such as Hans Petr, George Hannel, Franta Michálek, John Longfield, Joe Füller, Lu Gaspar, and Eman Baizar to disguise his identity.
In 1938 German troops occupied Czechoslovakia, and Schulhoff unsuccessfully applied for emigration papers to England, France, or the United States. When denied, he quickly shifted gears and applied for Soviet Citizenship for himself and his family. They received visas on June 13, 1941. Unfortunately, it was too late— the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union nine days later, so leaving became impossible. Schulhoff was arrested for being a Soviet Citizen the next day. He was deported to a concentration camp in Wülzburg, Bavaria. He continued to compose, working on his Eighth Symphony. After roughly a year, he contracted tuberculosis and died. The Eighth Symphony remains unfinished.